White House Chief of Staff
The White House Chief of Staff is an important appointment made by a President of the United States of America.[1] An incoming President has to choose individuals for over 3,000 Presidential appointments. James A. Baker, who served as Chief of Staff for two Presidents, said that Chief of Staff, the director of presidential personnel, and President's Legal Counself, should be an incoming President's first three appointment, because he will need to depend on them in choosing, and vetting all the other appointments
As of February 2026[update] Donald Trump's chief of staff is Susan Wiles.
Some Chiefs of Staff are powerful gatekeepers, who jealously control access to the President. Richard Whalen, one of President Richard Nixon's speechwriters, quoted Nixon's Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman, who said "Every President needs an S.O.B. -- and I'm Nixon's.".[2] Even Nixon's Presidential cabinet Secretaries had great trouble seeing Nixon.
References
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David G. Cohen, Charles E. Walcott. "Smoothing the Peaceful Transfer of Democratic Power" (PDF). Kinder Institute on Democracy. Retrieved 2024-02-16. Cite has empty unknown parameter:
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Edward Walsh (1973-05-01). "Haldeman, Intensely Loyal, Key to Access to Nixon". Washington Post. p. A11. Retrieved 2024-02-16. Cite has empty unknown parameter:
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